Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect your Practice
Explore the biomechanics of 30 key yoga asanas, in-depth and from every angle, and master each pose with confidence and control.
Introducing Science of Yoga – an all-encompassing science book to help you better understand yoga anatomy and the medical science behind yoga to perfect your practice and poses!
Did you know that yoga practice can help treat age-related memory loss better than brain-training games?
Recent scientific research now supports what were once anecdotal claims about the benefits of yoga to every system in the body. Science of Yoga provides a detailed insight into variations of key yoga poses and the specific benefits of different styles of yoga on the human body, system by system.
Dive right in to discover:
– Specially commissioned CGI artworks show 30 asanas in depth and detail the physics of the pose
– 16 spreads of clear, easy-to-understand scientific facts and research answering key questions around ancient and modern claims
– Illustrated section on the benefits of yoga on the human body system by system
– Easy-to-understand research is presented in an easy-to-understand format with illustrated pullouts, debunking the myths and explaining the scientific facts, from breathing techniques to mindfulness
Science of Yoga is a riveting read, and reveals how your blood flow, respiration, muscles and joints work below the surface of each yoga pose, whilst teaching you to achieve technical excellence in your practice, from the comfort of your own home.
The first yoga book on the market to combine detailed anatomical drawings, pose mechanics and key scientific research, Science of Yoga is a must-have volume for yoga beginners and professionals alike, seeking an accessible and easy-to-read guide on the effects of yoga on the human body from a scientific standpoint.
Whether you’re looking to take up yoga this New Year, or your yoga poses are already perfect, this science book is the ideal fitness gift for the yoga lover in your life, and sets out to separate the facts of yoga from the myths, with proven scientific research.
The pictures are very well done and detailed.
There are helpful tips - I am SO glad I got this book...once I opened it, I order the one for Pilates too.
My best friend loves the gift and said it was perfect for her to better practice memorizing anatomy of the body and understanding how different yoga poses and anatomy go hand in hand.
Highly recommend.
I knew this book existed, but didn't want to really pay the price at first. Completely understandable. I finally bit the bullet and bought it recently, and it was one of the best financial decisions (and investments) I've ever made. The pictures are beautifully drawn, the language written throughout the book is easy to understand yet scientific and informative, and it gave me more information than my current YTT does.
Ann, thank you SO much for this fantastic educational resource. This book is so incredibly helpful, and I am so grateful for you for putting something like this together. Everybody needs to read this if they are interested in yoga anatomy, even if they are not necessarily yoga practitioners. Thank you again! <3
I appreciate the color and thorough explanation, I love it so much that I recommended it to some of my yogi clients. This is worthy of Christmas gifts to your friends 🤩👌🏻🎉👍🏼
In addition to yoga lover I’m also a nurse. And this book helped me understand anatomy (specifically) better than my courses in nursing school. The images are so detailed and she really explains what action the muscles should be doing with the poses.
I highly recommend this book for instructors and students who are looking to understand more of how each pose is affecting the body and how you can better understand what parts should and shouldn’t be used!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5 stars!! 💫
Thank you!
The Asana (poses) section of the book guides exploration of what's going on inside the body while practicing yoga. Each of around 30 Asana has at least two views, eg, front and back; often, side views are provided. Red-, blue-, and purple-colored muscles clearly indicate what's being stretched or strengthened. This section is packed with details, both in print and diagramed.
Other sections of the book touch on aspects of human anatomy system beside the musculoskeletal, such as the lymphatic and immune systems, respiratory system, nervous system and so on, showing how other body systems are involved in a yoga practice. A questions and answers section briefly yet effectively addresses issues such as spinal care in yoga, yoga for different life stages, meditation, stress/mental well being, and chronic pain. This section even touches on yoga philosophy.
The book also includes a 'Cautions' section that can help a practitioner modify poses based on needs and health conditions.
The book contains a table of contents (front), and a glossary and an index at the back.
Science of Yoga is very good at explaining that yoga is adaptable for pretty much everyone. Regardless if a practitioner is spiritual, religious, agnostic, or whatever, studies and research indicate and suggest that yoga can help one find better health, more peace.
I look forward to more from Ann Swenson. I'm counting on her continuing her amalgamation of research and studies that explain and prove (rather than "indicate" or "suggest") what she wisely presents in Science of Yoga.
I especially like the Q&A portion which brings it to reality of common questions Ann would get during her yoga classes.
Thank you for this book! If I ever run a yoga teacher training, this will be in the curriculum hands down!
Mad props to Ann Swanson, this is a great resource. Thank you!
Most yoga anatomy books focus primarily on muscles and skeleton in the various poses. Science of Yoga does that better than most, with excellent illustrations and detailed call outs. But it goes deeper and wider than what other books cover. Each pose begins with a two-page "Big Picture" overview, which is followed by another two pages called "Closer Look." For Cat-Cow, there are two pages focused on Cat, two pages on Cow, and another two pages on the movement from Cat to Cow; not only spinal flexion and extension, but how the movement facilitates breathing, body awareness, and the mind-body connection.
Beyond bones, joints, and muscles, I appreciate how author Ann Swanson covers all the systems of the body (circulatory, nervous, lymphatic, endocrine, digestive). Having taught yoga for ten years, I knew little or nothing about these systems. Science of Yoga attempts to cover everything that science can tell us about each system of the body in relation to yoga. I appreciate how the author encourages a shift “to a yogic perspective...of unity” (all of the systems functioning together).
The main focus of my teaching is wellness, and Science of Yoga serves that focus very well. Science of Yoga also meets my needs because I am generally agnostic about the traditional Indian-based claims of yoga benefits. Since we have the benefit of modern science, I want science-based evidence before I pass a claim like "shoulder stand stimulates the thyroid" on to my students.
The final section of the book (Q&As) is a series of two-page articles on how science informs us about joints and flexibility, spinal care, meditation, Savasana, stress, the brain and mental well-being, chronic pain, and other topics).
For teacher or practitioner, this is a book to study and, over time, increase one's mastery of yoga.
WONDERFUL BOOK!
All the detailed biological illustrations and explanations that are included on most pages are so informative! It’s a great resource and I wish I had had it in my YTT! Going to recommend it to my studio!
Thank you!!!
There is so much I like about the book, but as a yoga teacher what I find particularly helpful is the "Alignment" box for each pose. It points out specifically where to focus and suggests how to move/engage that area so that the anatomy & physiology you're learning can be APPLIED to improve your practice. This helps you start using what you're learning right away, even as you continue to study why those cues work. I actually use the Alignment boxes as a resource for helpful cues in my classes, and it's definitely improved both my own practice and those of my students.
My hope is that the success of this book will allow Ann to continue to write more of them, covering more poses and expanding on this excellent material. Having a series of books by her would be a wonderful addition to my yoga teaching bookshelf!
I've only had it for a month or so but I know it will be a staple in my resource tool set for sure. When I say I love it, I mean it - the content, the layout, the texture of the pages, the colors, the illustrations - EVERYTHING. Anatomy is just one thing it covers, she also talks about alignment, variations, mind-body connection, risks or benefits to multiple body systems...seriously - just buy it already!
The information is accessible for all levels of human body knowledge, the art is very helpful. Instead of having 6 anatomy books in front of me for various views of joints and attachments, I use Ann’s book.
I find myself using her explanations during my classes.
A must for every yoga teacher...
She has weaved together science, yoga, anatomy, spirituality and yogic principles in such a beautiful and masterful way that this book is one that every yoga teacher, practitioner, teacher trainer and yoga therapist needs to have their bookshelves, and even better always at arms’ length to refer to and integrate into their living and teaching yoga.
Visually, this book is stunning. But more so it is accessible and user-friendly. Visual learners will eat up this book immediately. Its format allows the reader to use as a reference for a single specific subject area - or to be read cover to cover. Swanson builds a solid foundation in "Science of Yoga” with exactly "that" - the science - more specifically anatomy. She then continues to build upon the science with the yoga, and then coming full circle with an informative and insightful Q & A, and ending the book by connecting the dots of science and spiritual concepts and teachings that are the foundation of yoga.
As this being Swanson’s first book, and seeing what great work she has already brought to the table, I can only imagine what body of work is yet to come from her and am eager to watch (and read) her contributions to this field.